Environment committee  We're working with a number of international jurisdictions, particularly in Europe. Less than a year ago, we organized a workshop on energy labelling and disclosure to look at best practices, but also to be able to share some of what we do well in Canada. When we look at a province like Ontario, which has already put into legislation the mandatory disclosure of large-building energy use, we're able to share those practices to help bring along those who are perhaps behind us.

Environment committee  With pleasure.

Environment committee  Certainly. In fact, it's an area that I think has been much contemplated. We've seen a lot of our stakeholders, particularly in the commercial building sector, the Canada Green Building Council in particular, calling for these kinds of measures. In one of the initiatives we're undertaking, last fall we met with a number of different stakeholders in that sector to look at what options there are internationally and to look at some best practices, whether it's a green bank model, or otherwise.

Environment committee  Sure, absolutely, but they do apply to commercial buildings.

Environment committee  Sure. And maybe the National Research Council can speak to that as well. With respect to incorporating requirements within the commercial code, there are two distinct codes for buildings. One is the national energy code for buildings, which applies to commercial and institutional buildings.

Environment committee  I'd only add that one of the activities and initiatives that NRCan is pursuing is looking out for equipment in particular and developing market transformation strategies. When we speak of the governance, there's the energy and mines ministers' conference, which is a federal-provincial-territorial body that works to help implement a lot of the measures within the pan-Canadian framework.

Environment committee  NRCan has a number of programs to support that kind of capacity building. They're delivered on the energy efficiency side with respect to deployment and programs, and we've gotten a lot of positive feedback from provinces and territories on the local energy efficiency partnerships program, which in essence is accelerating home builder innovation.

Environment committee  I'm not aware of any comparisons or cost-benefit analyses done of keeping an existing building versus tearing it down to build a more highly efficient building. I certainly don't want to speculate on what the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes might look at, but when they do look at the energy codes for new buildings and existing buildings, perhaps that's some kind of consideration that would be looked at, in that context.

Environment committee  Yes.

Environment committee  We're very early in the code development process with respect to determining what an energy code for existing buildings would look like. That process is finally approved by the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes through consultation with provinces and territories, and industry.

Environment committee  With respect to the codes, the objective is to reduce GHG emissions, but it's also to reduce energy consumption. That frees up room on the grid, for example. It also reduces costs for homeowners, and it improves the quality of the living space so that it's healthier and more comfortable.

Environment committee  Part of what we strive to do is to recognize that there are regional considerations and differences that need to be taken into account. Wood is a small proportion of any energy—

Environment committee  I think you'd probably need a technical expert for that question.

Environment committee  Many utilities across the country offer incentive programs as well that can help mitigate some of those costs.

Environment committee  Absolutely. As Vincent said, the low-carbon economy fund was provided to those provinces and territories that submitted proposals, many of which were in the residential, commercial, and institutional energy efficiency retrofits base, so those are the incentives. With respect to model codes for existing buildings, the process is just beginning at this stage.